IT READS like one of Roman Abramovich’s many shopping lists, but even he could not plunder all of the refined talent which claimed another unique accolade for Spanish football this week.

When the professionals of the global game voted for FIFA’s World XI, all the selections came from La Liga, with five representatives from Barcelona, another five from Real Madrid and the line led by the one man Abramovich might land in the summer, Radamel Falcao of Atletico Madrid.

According to the PFA, even England’s own pros handed votes to only two English representatives, Manchester City’s goalkeeper Joe Hart and Ashley Cole, the Chelsea left-back.

Already, this has become a season in which the much-trumpeted power of the Premier League has come into question following the early exit from the Champions League of the holders, Chelsea, and the English champions, Manchester City.

But if there is any great gnashing of teeth taking place here about why the English game cannot produce talents to match Spaniards Andres Iniesta and Xavi, it is all a waste of a time.

Despite the mini-revolution in style being attempted by teams with a renewed love for the ball such as Swansea and West Brom, and with intermittent success among the biggest clubs, the nature of the Premier League is that it will become faster, stronger and more robust rather than more elegant.

Even City, who have room for the sublime abilities of David Silva, have power and pace at the core of their style. Even Chelsea, who have recruited such deft performers as Oscar and Eden Hazard and say they wish to be all about attractiveness and entertainment, sacked Roberto Di Matteo when it did not work out instantly this season. And their best player in this campaign is a Spaniard, anyway – Juan Mata, who brilliantly combines his vision and touch with the rampant energy that is the prerequisite of success in English football.

It is no surprise there is sometimes a yearning here for some of the finest qualities of the Spanish game. It is not just Spain’s own who make La Liga such a dazzling spectacle, even if it does not match the relentless levels of competitiveness of the Premier League. Among the FIFA XI, there was pride of place for the four-time world player of the year, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo.

Among the FIFA XI, there was pride of place for the four-time world player of the year, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo

However, the Spanish model is not what the majority of supporters in England want to watch every week. English football has its own rampant brilliance, of which we should be proud.

It is all too easy to denigrate the technical standards of the Premier League when in fact some of the feats performed by its players at such rapid pace imply soaring levels of quality.

The mundane performance of the national side, however, and the faltering influence of English clubs in the Champions League suggest otherwise.

St George’s Park and the Premier League’s new youth development programme both represent attempts to rectify the failings which have hampered the England team.

But, by common consent, it will be 10 years at least before they bear fruit – if ever.

Roy Hodgson, the England manager, has not got time to wait for that. It is why, at best, he wants to harness the driving tempo of the Premier League on the international stage and, at worst, why he will be utterly practical as he was at Euro 2012.